1878: Silver dollars become legal in the US

On Feb. 16, 1878, the Bland-Allison Act became law, making silver dollars legal in the United States. The act required the Treasury to purchase between $2.5-4 million worth of silver per month, which would be coined into silver dollars. The photo shows Rep. Richard P. Bland (D-Mo.), who introduced the bill in Congress in 1876. Sen. William B. Allison (R-Iowa) added important amendments to the bill.